Design Your Universe [727361234522]

1. Samadhi (Prelude)2. Resign To Surrender: A New Age Dawns, Part IV3. Unleashed4. Martyr of the Free Word5. Our Destiny6. Kingdom of Heaven: A New Age Dawns, Part V - Hold In Derision/Children7. Price of Freedom, The (Interlude)8. Burn To a Cinder9. Tides of Time10. Deconstruct11. Semblance of Liberty12. White Waters13. Design Your Universe: A New Age Dawns, Part VI

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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 123452

Credits

Producer

Amanda Somerville; Epica; Mickey Hart

Engineer

Simon Oberender; Amanda Somerville; Olaf Reitmeier

Lyricist: Amanda Somerville.Personnel: Linda Van Summeren (soprano); Previn Moore (tenor); Coen Janssen (baritone, bass voice, piano, synthesizer); Simon Oberender, Olaf Reitmeier (baritone, bass voice); Melvin Edmondsen (bass voice); Isaac Delahaye (guitar); Yves Huts (bass guitar); Amanda Somerville (background vocals).Editors: Simon Oberender; Olaf Reitmeier.Photographer: Simone Simons.Dutch pomp-metal band Epica, fronted by classically trained mezzo-soprano Simone Simons, released their second album for Nuclear Blast only a year after their label debut, the more unique The Classical Conspiracy. That two-disc live set found them performing a mix of classical works and their own songs with backing by a full orchestra and choir. This album offers more of their bombastic goth metal songs, with Simons' vocals floating atop an ever flowing stream of complicated drumming, epic riffs, and shredtastic solos. The use of orchestral instruments to add John Williams-like climaxes is intermittently successful, but the music is just as frequently stripped down to an unaccompanied piano or to just the rock band, and that works, too. The very occasional interruption of male death growls is less necessary; frankly, the band should just let Simons do her Sarah Brightman-esque thing and keep the riffs cranking behind her. If you like this sort of thing (Lacuna Coil, Nightwish, After Forever, Leaves' Eyes, etc., etc.), or if you're a big Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, this is exactly the sort of thing you'll like. ~ Phil Freeman